Only in NC, would all area school districts cancel for this.
Even though I had the highest of hopes for this home school to stay the course, by 8:30 am, I opened the door to nature’s display of a winter wonderland. 🙂
Yes, the kids even hauled down the cross country skies, bless their hopeful hearts.
So what do you do when your snow activities are not an option?
Well, the kids roast marshmallows, and mom gets to baking…in her jammies, of course.
Since you’ve scrolled down anticipating some bulk baking tips, let’s get started.Every once in awhile, when the sun, moon and starts align, I decide to descend upon my kitchen for a few hours of baking bedlam. If the concept of cooking in bulk is fairly foreign to you, begin reading my other posts found
here and here
They are obnoxiously long, but filled with a good foundation for what I am talking about.
With five children that are eating me out of house and home, I need to be ready to conquer the meal time madness war that is raged daily.
Part of that solution is having things accessible that are quick, filling and a little more healthy than the five boxes of Pop tarts (BOGO free/coupons) we polished off in two days.
Even though the box said “fiber filled,” I am thinking that my pillow case has fiber in that as well,
and I know I shouldn’t eat five boxes of those in two days. 🙂
What that means is cooking and baking from scratch more often, without making a ton more work for this Family Manager, and yes, that means having a teeny tiny plan…ugh!
You know how I feel about really detailed plans…it’s up there with spending hard earned money on undies. I’m just not wound up that way, but a little forethought goes a long way.
And ladies…it’s SO WORTH it!
The amount of money you will save, and the elevation of nutritional quality will amaze you.
Do you have enough eggs, milk, oil, and butter?
I typically always bake some kind of banana bread/muffins, but I actually had ten lbs of apples that were beginning to turn, and I knew that something with apples needed to be created.
I also have a ton of grain that needs to be used every week for the next 2 years, plus more flour than you can imagine. Chocolate chips from Sam’s Club are dangerously laying around the house, and mysteriously disappearing, so cookies were screaming my name.
My goal is to bake things that freeze well, and can be thawed or heated up in seconds.
Plan for the day….
-bread
-cookies
-waffle/pancakes
Just like with bulk cooking, why make just one batch of anything, when you can triple a recipe and freeze lots of extras for snacks or ready made breakfasts?
For me, the whole hassle is just getting started…it’s those baby steps again.
Once the mess is out, why not indulge and make the most of it.
If you can periodically put 1-2 hours aside to bake, you’d be amazed at what you can get put up in your freezer.
Have you noticed how the cost of frozen grocery store waffles have gone through the roof?
This is one of my kids favorite breakfasts, but it’s become completely cost prohibitive (unless it’s triple coupons) considering my eldest eats 6 waffles at a sitting.
And, have you looked at the list of ingredients? Far from stellar.
I started making batches of pancakes and waffles years ago and then freezing them.
It’s wonderful for the kids to just pop them out of their ziplock and heat them up in the toaster or microwave (if you like them softer). I lay them on a cookie sheet for a quick freeze first and then pop them in the zip lock bag. It keeps them from sticking together.
My favorite waffle recipe is a bit more time consuming than your basic add water mix :),
but so worth the effort.
I didn’t think about turning this into a blog post til AFTER the waffles, thus no pictures.
I did not triple this recipe nor quadruple it, I had to what’s x 5, it? Quintuple it? And after feeding them breakfast, still did not have as much as I wanted for the freezer….grrr….
Malted Belgium Waffles
2 cups sifted flour
2 TB sugar
1 1/2 TB baking powder
1 tsp salt
2-3 TB malt (I omit this since I always forget to buy it, but it probably just makes it)
6 eggs (separated)
1 3/4 cups milk
6 TB melted butter
Preheat waffle iron. Sift dry ingredients together (do you know I never do this? I’m a lazy baker.)
Combine egg yolks, milk, and butter; mix until smooth.
Add to dry ingredients;mix until smooth.
Beat egg whites until soft peaks form and fold into batter.
Pour into iron and bake until steaming stops and waffle is golden brown.
Serves 8, unless your my family…
Pancake recipe that I love
Feather Pancakes
3/4 cups flour
1/3 tsp salt
1 TB baking powder
1 1/3 TB sugar
1 egg, beaten
3/4 cup milk
1 1/3 tablespoons oil
Mix dry ingredients.
Blend together in blender of food processor (yes, takes out the lumps, but then I have to wash more dishes :), eggs, milk, and oil; add to flour mixture and beat until smooth.
Allow batter to sit for ten minutes.
Cook on griddle.
Serves 4 (when mine were toddlers, maybe)
Oh my sweet friends…I hate to cut you off short,
but please come back tomorrow for the next installment…..and oh, those muffins were scrumptious. 🙂
Our snow here in NC is right pitiful, isn’t it. All the neighborhood kids make the best out of it too.
Not long ago I made waffles just for myself. I didn’t want to waste the batter so I made the rest and froze them. I was a little skeptical because I typically don’t like to reheat things. They turned out great!
Thanks for your recipes!
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What a fun mom you are!!! A bombfire with mom in pj’s…cracks me up!! That recipe sounds yummy for waffles!
-sandy toe
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I think I’ll bake some muffins Jen! Can’t wait to meet you at Blissdom!
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Great post!
You know..we make waffles on the weekend and we always have leftovers. I wonder why it is I’ve never frozen them????!
Do you microwave them?
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You are so good – I’m in awe.
Great plan.
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I need to clean out my freezer so I could actually do this, but it’s a GREAT idea! Thanks for sharing!
Suzanne
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THANK YOU for the great recipes! Can’t wait to have a baking day… I love to bake!
You’ve inspired me to do a post on bulk bread baking. Of course I need to DO it, so I can take pictures =) I have an awesome recipe!
Can’t wait for your muffin recipe!
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I am totally trying those waffles. YUM. And I love the idea of baking ahead and freezing them. I must do that more often.
Thanks for stopping by this morning! Can’t wait for Blissdom!!
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This is a great idea! I never think about making more to freeze.
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One day, I will bake in bulk!! One day!!!!!! 🙂
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Hi!
Great idea! Baking in bulk! There’s no one home now except me and the hubby, so couldn’t do this. Well, maybe! As for your snow! We have 9 inches of the white stuff, if you can figure out how to get it to your house you can have some of ours! LOL Have a great day!!
Sherrie
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Great idea! I actually did the exact opposite this weekend when at the last second I halved the chocolate chip cookie recipe I was making when my husband thought to ask me how many eggs I needed and let me know that we didn’t have that many. 🙂 Oh well, we were happy for whatever cookies we got! 🙂 Kelly
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I want snow… BAD. I want it for 2 days then I want it gone. I grew up in a Southern California beach city and well… I have a climate tolerance of about 10 degrees… but I love snuggly winter activities AND baking is my winter sport. Really.
Okay, have I mentioned that we’re sisters? Aside from the whole singing thing, and bum wiping thing…oh, sorry to the classy ladies out there reading this comment who are now totally grossed out… we also have boys eating us out of house and home. There are times when I wake up in the morning to find the pantry light on and tell tale signs of ravenous animals that crept in while the house slept. My 12 year old has an unquenchable appetite. Baking in bulk is a joke in this house because bulk means it takes us 2 days to eat a meal instead of multiple meals… You know girl… I’m preaching to the choir.
Great post lady!
PrettyOrganizer
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GREAT! I always feel so ‘perfect wife and mother’ like when REMEMBER to make a little extra and freeze it! Smart post!
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how did you get the coupons.com sidebar? i’ve looked around for it and can’t figure out where it is?
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Hello
I to am a Mother to 5 (Boys). They are hard on the grocery budget…ha ha. But I have been quite inspired by the baking in bulk and cooking for a month, it sounds great and would surly help me on the nights we have hockey. WOuld you have a good recipe for Whole Wheat bread?? I would really like to do a baking day and make muffins cookies and bread.
Thanks
Roxy
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Great post. I always try to freeze any extra when we make pancakes or muffins. No waffle maker here but Giant carries Aunt Jemima 16 pack for 1.50 (on sale and I always buy a bunch) so we’re covered there. And only the little one will eat them anyhow. Cookies never make it into the freezer but banana bread always does.
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Jen, I love it that you are so resourceful with your large family & do bulk baking. I don't do a lot, but it's just me & hubby. good for you!
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Love the recipes, Jen! Thanks. Do your waffles get soggy when you reheat them?
I get in the baking groove too. Usually involves chocolate, though. I make my deliciousness, take 1 or 2 bites and then I am done. The rest of the calories go to my sweet husband and kids. Not pretty. Mark says I have to stop baking. Bummer. 🙂
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I do this all the time. But right now I can’t get past your “good money for undies?”
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I saw this link on Blissfully Domestic. You’ve got a great site. The waffles are a great idea to make. Thanks.
-Lori
http://www.thetowells.com
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Thanks for the recipes and the inspiration!
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My kids would love a day playing in the snow!
ENJOY your day!
Fifi
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I love the thought of the snow where you are. I’m in Sydney, Australia and it’s currently 40 degrees C (I think that’s 123 degrees F). Oppresively, can’t think straight hot. Would love to try out your recipes, but I’ll wait for cooler weather. Thanks for the tips.
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Freezing Homemade waffles and pancakes…. I never would have thought of it.
Great blog, and great post! Great ideas!!!!
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Fantastic ideas! Thanks for sharing. I might keep the waffles for myself…
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Great tips, Jen! My family is getting smaller and smaller and yet I am still cooking like I have an army! Freezing the leftovers is great, we get a meal another night with no effort! Love that.
thanks for sharing!
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I’ve always had the thought that if I’m going to start the oven, it must be a full oven! So, I’ll bake however many I can fit into the oven or have the ingredients for and I’ll freeze the rest. What a help it is to have breads, cakes, quiches meatloafs on hand!
I enjoy your blog — keep it going!
Lori
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